I don't think the iPad is the major limiting factor here. If by "feature phone" you mean the free ones they hand out for people that don't want a smartphone, I highly doubt it's possible. The best you might be able to do is log in to your carrier's web site from the iPad to send a text message. The iPad won't support the "headset" end of the headset profile for Bluetooth, only the "phone" or "source" end so using the iPad as the mic/speaker for phone calls won't be possible.

If you had an iPhone you could register your phone number with Messages and then it would be usable across all your Apple devices for messaging.

Comfort-wise, I'd MUCH rather hold the phone than the iPad. Sure, the iPad is an Apple product vs. the no-name feature phone (which could then be hidden), but then all your conversations are heard by EVERYONE as there's no earpiece on the iPad like there is on an iPhone, just the main speaker. Unless you're plugging in headphones, but why not just plug those into the phone and put it in your pocket?.

Comfort-wise, I'd MUCH rather hold the phone than the iPad. Sure, the iPad is an Apple product vs. the no-name feature phone (which could then be hidden), but then all your conversations are heard by EVERYONE as there's no earpiece on the iPad like there is on an iPhone, just the main speaker. Unless you're plugging in headphones, but why not just plug those into the phone and put it in your pocket?.

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Texting is 1000% faster on the iPad. A better interface.

And if you hold the iPad Mini upside down than the microphone and speaker are at the perfect place to have a phone conversation.

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